System and Apparatus for Selectively Limiting User Control of an Electronic Device

ABSTRACT

A system and apparatus for selectively limiting user control of a mobile electronic device are provided. In an embodiment, the apparatus may be a case sized to receive a mobile electronic device, the case having a locking means to at least partially secure an opening thereof. When engaged, the locking means may be physically impenetrable by the user of the mobile electronic device and may further be configured to engage and disengage in the presence of one or more pre-determined conditions. For example, the lock may engage when the case is detected within a certain geographical region or even during a specified time. It is contemplated that providing disclosed systems and apparatuses may reduce undesirable behavior at communal events by eliminating distractions posed by mobile electronic devices and preventing unauthorized recordings, which together may enhance overall engagement at and enjoyment of such events.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 USC 119, this application claims the right of priority toProvisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/982,789 filed on Apr. 22,2014. The content of said application is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

Not applicable.

STATEMENT RE. FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK NOTICES

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain materialthat is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may showand/or describe matter that is or may become trade dress of the owner.The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files orrecords, but otherwise reserves all copyrights and trade dress rightswhatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates generally to systems andapparatuses for limiting functionality of personal electronic devicesand, more particularly, to locking cases and other techniques thatselectively limit a user's ability to access and control such electronicdevices until predetermined conditions, such as geographic location andpassage of time, are met.

BACKGROUND

Handheld and mobile electronic devices have become ubiquitous forconveniently enhancing wireless communication and connectivity. Still,the extent of their pervasive use has also proven to be unwelcome incertain settings.

In many instances, mobile electronic devices can distract users fromappreciating their surroundings and company of others to a full extent.For example, many who bring their mobile electronic devices, such ascell phones, to social outings may find themselves foregoing liveconversation to check their phones for text messages, missed calls, andother virtual communications. Additionally, as photo and video recordingcapabilities have improved, users have increasingly taken to using theirmobile electronic devices to record performers, speakers, and evenathletes at live events. This can be distracting to the performers andto others in the audience, detracting from overall enjoyment of theevent. Indeed, this can even be harmful to the intellectual propertyrights of performers whose copyrighted or otherwise valuable and legallyprotectable displays and performances are digitally recorded anddistributed without authorization.

Attempts have been made to limit use of mobile electronic devices. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 7,181,229 to Singh et al. discloses a systemthat, in part, shuts off a cell phone and prevents a user from turningthe cell phone on while it is within a restricted area, such as a car.This solution is deficient however, because it completely prevents usersfrom being notified of any incoming calls or messages that may requirethe user's attention. The '229 patent further discloses a system thatlimits cell phone function when it is detected within an automobile.Aside from the geographically limited application of this invention, itis also deficient because it fails to blocks the screen to diminishpossible temptation to use the device.

Other attempts to discourage use of mobile electronic devices atcommunal events and in certain venues have been largely ineffective. Forexample, providing signs and instructions to refrain from using mobileelectronic devices in certain areas and/or during specified time periodsare often ignored. Moreover, requiring people to leave mobile electronicdevices at home, turn them off, or to physically turn them over to venuestaff for the duration of an event is often met with resistance. Thismay be because users prefer not to be separated from their valuablepersonal property, fearing theft of their devices and electronicallystored information, and even the risk of missing important messages orother notifications.

Thus, although various proposals have been made to solve the problem,none of those in existence combine the characteristics of the presentinvention. Therefore, there remains a need for a system and apparatusthat selectively limits access to and/or disables functions of a mobileelectronic device.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to techniques for limiting access toand control of personal mobile electronic devices within certaingeographic locations or even during specified periods of time.

For purposes of summarizing, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures have been described. It is to be understood that not all suchadvantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particularembodiment. Thus, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied orcarried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage orgroup of advantages without achieving all advantages as may be taught orsuggested.

In one embodiment, among others, the apparatus is a case sized toaccommodate a mobile electronic device. More particularly, the case maycomprise a front and a rear panel secured together along longitudinallyopposed side edges and laterally opposed lower edges. Configured in thismanner, the front and rear panels and sealed edges may define an openingto receive the mobile electronic device.

The case may additionally comprise a locking means for at leastpartially securing the opening. The locking means may comprise opposingplates disposed on or within the front and rear panels of the case. Moreparticularly, opposing plates respectively having securably mateablefemale and a male members are contemplated. It is additionallycontemplated that the locking means may first render the electronicdevice inaccessible to the user, or in other words possessor, of thedevice and second be non-disengageable by the user of the mobileelectronic device until predetermined condition is met. In other words,when engaged, the locking means may be physically impenetrable by theuser of the mobile electronic device and may further be configured todisengage to provide the user with access to his or her mobileelectronic device only under certain circumstances.

For example, predetermined condition may relate to geographic locationor timing. Indeed, in one embodiment, the case may be used to render amobile electronic device inaccessible during a communal event such as ashow, demonstration, display, or athletic competition within a concerthall, center, arena, or similar venue. In such scenarios, the lockingmeans may only become disengageable if a user leaves the venue.Alternatively, the locking means may only become disengageable at such atime as the communal event is completed. As yet another alternative, thelocking means may become disengageable when a user locates venue staffwho are equipped to physically disengage the locking means on theirbehalf.

In an embodiment, the locking means may be remotely engageable anddisengageable. The locking means may be equipped with electronicreceivers such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) configured toinstruct the locking means to alternatively engage and disengage when itreceives a signal from a proximity transmitter indicating that the casehas respectively entered and exited defined geographical region. Thus,for example, the locking means may receive instructions to lock thedevice when it is located within an audience seating area of a venue orconcert hall. Then, the locking device may receive instructions tounlock the device when it is located outside of the audience area of avenue or concert hall.

In still another embodiment, the locking device may be equipped with amicroprocessor configured to receive Bluetooth™ or other wireless datasignals from a beacon or transmitter within a defined perimeter. Thus,for example, receipt of a wireless data signal may cause the lockingmeans on the case to engage so that it restricts access to the mobileelectronic device housed within the case. In other examples, the absenceof a wireless data signal may cause the locking device to engage.

It is contemplated that providing disclosed systems and apparatusesaccording to the disclosure and claims provided below may reduceundesirable behavior at communal events by eliminating distractionsposed by mobile electronic devices and preventing unauthorizedrecordings, which together may enhance overall engagement at andenjoyment of such events.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to eliminate distractions causedby use of mobile electronic devices at communal events.

It is another object of the invention to prevent users from controllingtheir mobile electronic devices within certain locations.

It is yet another object of the invention to prevent users fromcontrolling their mobile electronic devices during certain periods oftime.

It is still another object of the invention to avoid possibleinfringement of intellectual property rights caused by unauthorized useof recording features available on many mobile electronic devices.

It is another object of the invention to protect personal privacy ofthose surrounding users of mobile electronic devices at communal eventsby preventing such users from photographing and recording them, and evenfurther preventing such users from sharing any impermissibly capturedphotos and recordings.

One or more of the above-disclosed embodiments, in addition to certainalternatives, are provided in further detail below with reference to theattached figures. The disclosed subject matter is not, however, limitedto any particular embodiment disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the case forselectively limiting user control of an electronic device.

FIG. 2 is an alternate perspective view of an embodiment of the case forselectively limiting user control of an electronic device.

FIG. 3 is a skeletal view of an embodiment of the case for selectivelylimiting user control of an electronic device.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of means for locking the embodiment ofthe case for selectively limiting user control of an electronic devicein FIGS. 1-3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of means for unlocking an embodiment ofthe case for selectively limiting user control of an electronic device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the system forselectively limiting user control of an electronic device.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a mobile electronic devicepracticing an embodiment of the system for selectively limiting usercontrol of the electronic device.

The disclosed embodiments may be better understood by referring to thefigures in the attached drawings, as provided below. The attachedfigures are provided as non-limiting examples for providing an enablingdescription of the system and apparatus claimed. Attention is called tothe fact, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typicalembodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered aslimiting of its scope. One skilled in the art will understand that theinvention may be practiced without some of the details included in orderto provide a thorough enabling description of such embodiments.Well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described indetail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of theembodiments.

One embodiment of the invention is implemented as a program product foruse with a computer system. The program(s) of the program productdefines functions of the embodiments (including the methods describedherein) and can be contained on a variety of computer-readable storagemedia. Illustrative computer-readable storage media include, but are notlimited to: (i) non-writable storage media (e.g., read-only memorydevices within a computer such as CD-ROM disks readable by a CD-ROMdrive) on which information is permanently stored; (ii) writable storagemedia (e.g., floppy disks within a diskette drive or hard-disk drive) onwhich alterable information is stored. Such computer-readable storagemedia, when carrying computer-readable instructions that direct thefunctions of the present invention, are embodiments of the presentinvention. Other media include communications media through whichinformation is conveyed to a computer, such as through a computer ortelephone network, including wireless communications networks. Thelatter embodiment specifically includes transmitting information to/fromthe Internet and other networks. Such communications media, whencarrying computer-readable instructions that direct the functions of thepresent invention, are embodiments of the present invention. Broadly,computer-readable storage media and communications media may be referredto herein as computer-readable media.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of theinvention, may be part of an operating system or a specific application,component, program, module, object, or sequence of instructions. Thecomputer program of the present invention typically is comprised of amultitude of instructions that will be translated by the native computerinto a machine-readable format and hence executable instructions. Also,programs are comprised of variables and data structures that eitherreside locally to the program or are found in memory or on storagedevices. In addition, various programs described hereinafter may beidentified based upon the application for which they are implemented ina specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should beappreciated that any particular program nomenclature that follows isused merely for convenience, and thus the invention should not belimited to use solely in any specific application identified and/orimplied by such nomenclature.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figuresillustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions anddetails of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in thedrawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodimentsof the present invention. The same reference numerals in differentfigures denote the same elements.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in thedescription and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishingbetween similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particularsequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the termsso used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such thatthe embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operationin sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variationsthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises alist of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but mayinclude other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process,method, system, article, device, or apparatus.

The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the likeshould be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or moreelements or signals, electrically, mechanically or otherwise. Two ormore electrical elements may be electrically coupled, but notmechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements maybe mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled; twoor more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but notelectrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical,electrical, or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanentor semi-permanent or only for an instant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Having summarized various aspects of the present disclosure, referencewill now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the drawings.While the disclosure will be described in connection with thesedrawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment orembodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover allalternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spiritand scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4 the apparatus for selectively limiting usercontrol of an electronic device may be embodied as a case 100 sized toaccommodate a mobile electronic device 102. More particularly, the casemay comprise a front 104 and a rear panel 106 secured together alonglongitudinally opposed side edges 108 and laterally opposed lower edges110. The lower edges 110 may be secured by permanently stitching orgluing together, while the side edges 108 may be stitched or gluedupward from the lower toward an opening 112 that is defined by the frontand rear panels 104, 106 and permanently secured edges 108, 110 andfurther sized to receive the mobile electronic device 102.

As illustrated, one embodiment of the apparatus may be a soft, flexiblecase. It may comprise various rugged materials such as neoprene, lycra,silicone rubber, spandex, vinyl, canvas, and any other material orcombinations of materials sufficient to temporarily house a mobileelectronic device. Additionally, various other configurations arecontemplated for the shape of the apparatus as well. For example, theinvention may comprise a rigid shell or box having a securable. openingto receive a mobile electronic device. As such, one skilled in the artwill recognize that the illustrated figures are offered by way ofexample and ease of understanding only, not of limitation.

The apparatus for selectively limiting user control of an electronicdevice further comprises a locking means 114 for at least partiallysecuring the opening 112 so the mobile electronic device 102 is may berendered inaccessible to and further incontrollable by the user of thedevice although it may still remain in his possession.

In one embodiment, the locking means 114 comprises opposing platesdisposed on or within the front and rear panels 106, 108 of the case100, and to effect locking, each opposing plate has one of a securablymateable female 114 a and male 114 b member. Other locking means are, ofcourse, contemplated. For example, magnetic plates, selectivelyreleasable mesh, lockable zippers, and other means for at leastpartially securing the opening 112 may be sufficient to practice theinvention. In this manner, the locking means 114 may first render theelectronic device 102 inaccessible to the user by at least partiallysecuring the opening 112 of the device, and second be non-disengageableby the user of the mobile electronic device until a predeterminedcondition is met.

One or more embodiments of the case 100 may be configured to selectivelylimit access to a mobile electronic device 102 in response to variouspredetermined conditions. In one embodiment, the case may be outfittedwith locking means 114 comprising a manual, key-operated latch whereinmeans for unlocking comprise a corresponding key. In such an embodiment,the case 100 may be manually locked or unlocked by venue staff or othermembers in possession of such a key. Thus, the system for selectivelylimiting user control of an electronic device may involve apredetermined condition requiring the user of the electronic device 102to locate venue staff or other members in possession of the key tomanually unlock the case 100 on user's behalf.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the system 500 for selectively limitinguser control of an electronic device may comprise a locking means 114having electronic receivers, such as a radio frequency identification(RFID) tag and means for unlocking the case 100 comprising an electronicarticle surveillance (EAS) detacher 502 for separating the matingportions of the locking means 114. The EAS detacher 502 may be, forexample, any of those known in the to contain strong magnets thatinterrupt electromagnetic fields such as those in the range of radiofrequencies. Thus, in one embodiment represented by FIG. 5, the at leastpartially secured locking means 114 may be touched to the EAS detacher502 so that any electromagnetic fields enabling the locking means 114 toremain secured are interrupted. This, in turn, may allow the lockingmeans 114 to become unsecured and further exposes the mobile electronicdevice 102 within the case as in FIG. 6. In such an embodiment, it iscontemplated that the predetermined condition involves locating an EASdetacher. In the event that the system and apparatus for selectivelylimiting user control of an electronic device is employed to reducedistractions at a communal event, such means for unlocking the case maybe placed out side of any audience viewing area or even at venue exitways.

The means for unlocking the case may also operate remotely to cause thecase to automatically lock and unlock. For example, in one embodiment,the locking means may automatically lock and unlock when the case isdetermined to be, respectively, within and outside of a definedgeographical region. For example, with reference to FIG. 7, anotherembodiment of the system may comprise locking means 114 havingelectronic receivers such as the aforementioned RFID tag disposedtherein and further configured to instruct the locking means toalternatively engage and disengage when it receives a signal from aproximity transmitter 702. Thus, for example, the locking means mayreceive instructions to lock the device when it is located in 100 a thegeographical region 704 within reach of the transmitter 702. Then, thelocking means 114 may receive instructions to unlock the device when itis located outside 100 b of the geographical region 704 within reach ofthe transmitter 702. In such an embodiment, it is contemplated that thepredetermined condition requires a user to exit a geographical region toregain access and control of his or her mobile electronic device. As amore particularized example, a transmitter signal may be configured tocover the geographical region of an audience seating area at a venuehosting a communal event. When within the audience seating area, thecase 100 a may remain secured so that a user is unable to access orcontrol the mobile electronic device contained therein. However, whenthe case 100 b travels outside of the audience seating area, such as toa foyer, lobby, or restroom, the locking means 114 may become unsecuredto provide access to the mobile electronic device. It should beunderstood that such a limitation is offered by way of example only. Thetransmitter signal may be configured to cover any desirable area, andindeed a plurality of transmitters 702 may even be employed to enlargeor otherwise define the geographical region affecting access and controlof the mobile electronic device.

In still another embodiment, the locking device may be equipped with amicroprocessor configured to receive Bluetooth™ or other wireless datasignals from a beacon or transmitter within a defined perimeter. Thus,for example, receipt of a wireless data signal may cause the lockingmeans on the case to engage so that it restricts access to the mobileelectronic device housed within the case. In other examples, the absenceof a wireless data signal may cause the locking device to engage.

In addition to geographical proximity to electromagnetic and otherwireless data signals, the predetermined condition may also oralternatively relate to the passage of time. For example, the lockingmeans may automatically become unsecured at the time that a communalevent is scheduled to end or even during intermissions. Thus atransmitter may produce a signal causing the locking means to remainsecured for a period of time. When the period of time elapses, thetransmitter may stop producing the signal so that the locking meansbecomes unsecured. Of course, various other predetermined conditions andmeans for unlocking may signal or prompt the release of the lockingmeans, and the foregoing are offered only for the purpose of enablingthe system and apparatus. In any event, when engaged, the locking meansmay be physically impenetrable by the user of the mobile electronicdevice and may further be configured to automatically or manuallydisengage to provide the user with access to his or her mobileelectronic device only under certain circumstances.

In still another embodiment, the mobile electronic device 102 itselfincludes an embodiment of the system for selectively limiting usercontrol of an electronic device. The system can be implemented innumerous ways such as, for example and without limitation, thosediscussed above, and even as an application executed on the mobileelectronic device 102. In operation, an embodiment of the systemreceives information from integrated positioning technology, such GlobalPosition Systems (GPS) to selectively limit a user's ability to controlhis or her mobile electronic device. Of course, one skilled in the artwill recognize that various methods of determining the location of amobile electronic device can be used.

In a further embodiment, a geofence may be created around a venue for acommunal event, or other location where it may be desirable to limit useof a mobile electronic device, so that the system automatically disablescertain functional capabilities of the mobile electronic device 102 anytime the device comes within a predetermined distance of the venue orother location. For example, a mobile electronic device within thegeofence may be rendered incapable of sending or receiving voice and/ortext messages. As another example, a mobile electronic device within thegeofence may be incapable of running applications or other programsoperative to capture audio and/or visual recordings. As yet anotherexample, a mobile electronic device within the geofence may be renderedincapable of receiving or transmitting data through the Internet andother networks.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a mobile electronic device102 that may be compatible with one or more embodiments of the disclosedsystem and apparatus. The mobile electronic device 102 may be a cellphone, smart phone, or tablet computer but may also be embodied in anyone of a wide variety of wired and/or wireless computing devices. Asshown in FIG. 8, mobile electronic device 102 includes a processingdevice (processor) 802, input/output interfaces 804, a display 806, atouchscreen interface 808, a network interface 810, memory 812, andoperating system 814, a mass storage 816 and a GPS 818, with eachcommunicating across a local data bus 820. Additionally, mobileelectronic device 802 incorporates a system for selectively limitinguser control of an electronic device 102, which may optionally beconfigured to include programming instructions to selectively disableany of the aforementioned features of the mobile electronic device 102.For example, in one embodiment, the system for selectively limiting usercontrol of an electronic device 102 may communicate instructions todisable input/output interfaces 804

The processing device 802 may include any custom made or commerciallyavailable processor, a central processing unit (CPU) or an auxiliaryprocessor among several processors associated with the mobile electronicdevice 102, a semiconductor based microprocessor (in the form of amicrochip), a macroprocessor, one or more application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), a plurality of suitably configured digitallogic gates, and other electrical configurations comprising discreteelements both individually and in various combinations to coordinate theoverall operation of the system.

The memory 812 can include any one of a combination of volatile memoryelements (e.g., random-access memory (RAM, such as DRAM, and SRAM,etc.)) and nonvolatile memory elements. The memory typically comprisesnative operating system 814, one or more native applications, emulationsystems, or emulated applications for any of a variety of operatingsystems and/or emulated hardware platforms, emulated operating systems,etc. For example, the applications may include application specificsoftware which may comprise some or all the components of the mobileelectronic device 102. In accordance with such embodiments, thecomponents are stored in memory and executed by the processing device.Note that although depicted separately in FIG. 8, the system selectivelylimiting user control of an electronic device 102 may be resident inmemory such as memory 812.

Touchscreen interface 808 may configured to detect contact within thedisplay area of the display 806 and provides such functionality ason-screen buttons, menus, keyboards, etc. that allows users to navigateuser interfaces by touch. Some embodiment of the mobile electronicdevice 102 will even comprise GPS 818 or other means to determine thelocation of the mobile electronic device 102.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the memory 814can, and typically will, comprise other components that have beenomitted for purposes of brevity. Note that in the context of thisdisclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores one or moreprograms for use by or in connection with an instruction executionsystem, apparatus, or device. With further reference to FIG. 8, networkinterface device 810 comprises various components used to transmitand/or receive data over a networked environment. When such componentsare embodied as an application, such as an application for executing andembodiment of the system for selectively limiting user control of theelectronic device, the one or more components may be stored on anon-transitory computer-readable medium and executed by the processingdevice.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merelyexamples of possible implementations. Many variations and modificationsmay be made to the above-described embodiments without departing fromthe principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications andvariations are intended to be included herein within the scope of thisdisclosure and protected by the following claims.

Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicatedto the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/orlimitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are orare potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations inthe claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, various modifications are contemplated and can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, communal events are discussed as venues for implementation ofthe invention, however it is contemplated that the system and apparatusdisclosed may be applied to small scale and even private venues such asfor example, a private home, a restaurant, members-only club, and evenautomobile or other vehicle. Accordingly, it is intended that theinvention not be limited, except as by the appended claim(s).

The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other systems andapparatuses, and may not necessarily be limited to any described herein.The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can becombined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents andapplications and other references, including any that may be listed inaccompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference.Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ thesystems, functions and concepts of the various references describedabove to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the system and apparatus for selectivelylimiting user control of an electronic device with which thatterminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the followingclaims should not be constructed to limit the system and apparatus forselectively limiting user control of an electronic device to thespecific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the abovedescription section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, theactual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but alsoall equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed systemand apparatus. The above description of embodiments of the system andapparatus for selectively limiting user control of an electronic deviceis not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise formdisclosed above or to a particular field of usage.

While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the method, system, andapparatus are described above for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible for which those skilled in therelevant art will recognize.

While certain aspects of the method and system disclosed are presentedbelow in particular claim forms, various aspects of the system andapparatus are contemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, theinventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing theapplication to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects ofthe system and apparatus for selectively limiting user control of anelectronic device.

What is claimed is:
 1. A case for selectively limiting a user's abilityto control a mobile electronic device, comprising: a front and a rearpanel each having first and second longitudinally opposed side edges andlaterally opposed lower edges, the first, second, and lower edges beingsecured together to define an opening for receiving a mobile electronicdevice; and a locking means for at least partially securing the openingso that the electronic device is rendered inaccessible to the user, thelocking means being further non-disengageable by the user of the mobileelectronic device until a predetermined condition is met.
 2. The case ofclaim 1, wherein the locking means comprises a female and a male plate,the plates respectively disposed on each of the front and rear panelsand configured to securably mate with one another.
 3. The case of claim2, wherein a radio frequency identification tag is further disposed inone or both of the female and male plates to receive instructions from aremote transmitter to disengage the locking means when the predeterminedcondition is met.
 4. The case of claim 2, wherein a microprocessor isfurther disposed in one or both of the female and male plates to receivea wireless data signal from a beacon or transmitter to disengage thelocking means when the predetermined condition is met.
 5. The case ofclaim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is physical presenceoutside of a defined geographical region.
 6. The case of claim 1,wherein the predetermined condition is the passage of time.
 7. Anapparatus for selectively limiting a user's ability to control to amobile electronic device, comprising: a shell defining a cavity sized toaccommodate a mobile electronic device and having an opening to receivethe mobile electronic device therein; and a locking means for at leastpartially securing the opening of the shell so that the electronicdevice is rendered inaccessible to the user, the locking means beingfurther non-disengageable by the user of the mobile electronic deviceuntil a predetermined condition is met.
 8. The case of claim 7, whereinthe predetermined condition is physical presence outside of a definedgeographical region.
 9. The case of claim 7, wherein the predeterminedcondition is the passage of time.
 10. A system for selectively limitinguser control of an electronic device, comprising: a case for a mobileelectronic device operative to become locked so that the user is unableto access the mobile electronic device contained therein until apredetermined condition is met; and means for unlocking the case. 11.The system of claim 10, wherein the case comprises: a front and a rearpanel each having first and second longitudinally opposed side edges andlaterally opposed lower edges, the first, second, and lower edges beingsecured together to define an opening for receiving a mobile electronicdevice; and a locking means for at least partially securing the opening.12. The case of claim 11, wherein the locking means comprises a femaleand a male plate, the plates respectively disposed on each of the frontand rear panels and configured to securably mate with one another. 13.The case of claim 11, wherein a radio frequency identification tag isfurther disposed in one or both of the female and male plates to receiveinstructions from a remote transmitter to disengage when thepredetermined condition is met.
 14. The case of claim 11, wherein amicroprocessor is further disposed in one or both of the female and maleplates to receive a wireless data signal from a beacon or transmitter todisengage the locking means when the predetermined condition is met. 15.The case of claim 10, wherein the predetermined condition is physicalpresence outside of a defined geographical region.
 16. The case of claim10, wherein the predetermined condition is the passage of time.
 17. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the mobile electronic device is operative toreceive instructions to disable one or more coded functions of themobile electronic device.